Don't think about it, just do it.

[Irulan]

So I have been eyeing this for a long time. I figured I could do it, but it was always, "next time I'll bring my full face... next time..." and finally on Sat I was riding with a bunch of friends and it was, "hey you want to ride Rushmore?". Sure, why not, no time like right now. So I just followed them over, no hesitation. I knew it was doable. It's a roll down: you ride right up to the top of it on a relatively flat-ish section of trail, and... roll it!
I did it twice just so we could get the photo.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8S2XMwvD_-I/Uj-l_6AwR_I/AAAAAAAAD1w/6EjN8r69feE/w466-h797-no/IMAG0867edited.jpg

[OakLeaf]

Ack! I almost had a panic attack just looking at the picture. Good for you!!!

[Veronica]

That looks cool! :D

Veronica

[Irulan]

it is. There is no air involved, just a straight roll down. If you've ever been shown "peek and push" or lunging - this is the place. Ride right up to it, look over and go.

[Catrin]

Sweet! My heart raced just looking at that photo :) You aren't as far back in the saddle as I would have thought, it looks like you still had some room to go back further. Obviously you nailed it, good for you!!!

[Irulan]

if you go too far back, you unweight the front end which is not a good thing. The "chest on the saddle" stuff is incorrect. It's all about where the center of mass (COM) is, in relation to the pull of gravity.
Look at it this way - you can draw a vertical line through my hips and feet to the ground... that's my center of mass, over my feet and pedals. If I were further back, my hips would not be over my feet, they'd be over the rear hub, and my chest would be above my feet, adn that is not a well balanced stance. You WANT your COM over your feet perpendicular to the ground.

[thekarens]

Very nice! A hair steeper than I like :-)

[TigerMom]

Very proud of you.

But, HOLY CRAP!! I am NOT ready for this ramp yet!

The words,"I think I'm going to die", would be definitely running through my head

[emily_in_nc]

Wow! Very impressive...I would not have the guts to do that at all!

[Irulan]

Very nice! A hair steeper than I like :-)

It's really wide, which makes it lots less intimidating that the typical ladder type thing.

[lph]

Awesome photo!! Looks like you can barely reach your bars... Well done :-)

[SheFly]

if you go too far back, you unweight the front end which is not a good thing. The "chest on the saddle" stuff is incorrect. It's all about where the center of mass (COM) is, in relation to the pull of gravity.
Look at it this way - you can draw a vertical line through my hips and feet to the ground... that's my center of mass, over my feet and pedals. If I were further back, my hips would not be over my feet, they'd be over the rear hub, and my chest would be above my feet, adn that is not a well balanced stance. You WANT your COM over your feet perpendicular to the ground.

Definitely! I have had the supreme misfortune of getting this wrong, and looping out hitting the bottom of a roll down, shredding my shorts in the process :D (though I did get some looks of respect when I walked into the bike shop with those shorts on afterwards).

Holy heck, though - I think this would TERRIFY me!

SheFly

[TrekDianna]

Great photo! That looks like fun.